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Dickson declines flooded-home purchase; Norman honored

Colleen Creamer, The Dickson Herald;
4:43 p.m. CDT May 9, 2014

Dickson Mayor Don Weiss Jr. and Planning and Zoning Director Jason Pilkinton award Board of Zoning Appeals Vice-Chairman Julian Norman (center) with a plaque for his service to the city. Also honored at the meeting was Board of Zoning Appeals Chairman Don Armstrong. Both retired this year.(Photo: Colleen Creamer/The Herald)

Dickson members of council declined at their monthly meeting Monday to buy a resident's property that floods using available federal and state grant money saying it would have citizens all over the city asking the city to buy their properties.

Chris Hooper of the city's Planning and Zoning office said he was just under obligation to make council aware of a hazard mitigation grant that could fund 75 percent of the project with federal funds, 12.5 percent with state funds and 12.5 percent with city funds.

Hopper said Dickson County had been recently eligible for a presidential disaster declaration following the ice storms in March.

The property, which is located on A.G Myatt Drive, is in a hundred-year flood plain, was in foreclosure when the owner bought it and was made aware during closing. There have been persistent flooding problems in the Brookside subdivision where the house is.

After much deliberation Councilman Dwight Haynes said that the city was being asked to purchase a property that was now of zero value.

"So, basically what you're saying is you want us to buy some property that he can't sell," Haynes said.

Members across the board said Dickson could not get involved in bailing out every citizen who made a questionable purchase. Particularly vocal about the issue was Councilman Bird Armstrong who said the city would be opening a "can of worms".

Councilman Scott England said the owner bought the home in 2005 and had it listed unsuccessfully for $80,000 for a long time.

It is not illegal to put a house on a flood plain as long as the house is at least one foot above it, said City Administrator Rydell Wesson, who added that he was aware of those properties and tried to block the building on a flood plain when they were building them.

Planning and Zoning Director Jason Pilkinton said there was no destruction to the home on the property and that council took the correct route by passing on the grant funds.

"This was a good decision," said Pilkinton. "Even if he (homeowner) applied he wouldn't have qualified. You have to show significant repeated structural damage, and he didn't have any structural damage."

Mayor Don L. Weiss and Pilkinton honored Board of Zoning Appeals Vice-Chairman Julian Norman with a plaque for his years of service to the city and Board of Zoning Appeals Chairman Don Armstrong. Both retired this year.